To only pay entertainer 2/3 beforehand?

[Folicky]

11yo DC's birthday coming up. Entertainer does a science show but are not a company. More a one-man-band type of thing. She was poor at answering messenger messages and emails and I don't have her phone number. This was put down to going to a wedding fair which was true.... but still. I'd rather pay half or two thirds beforehand and pay the rest afterwards. Not that I don't trust her but I feel I'm carrying all the responsibility and have no recourse if she say sleeps in. What's the done thing here? Maybe she is used to people not paying up after they've had her services or summat. 10 kids coming and apparently they get some merch, cost around £200. I know I'm not being unreasonable, therefore my question is: even though my stance is not unreasonable what would you do? I feel like just paying for it, but just asking for her number so that is she gets lost, sleeps in, it can be remedied.

I certainly would be very slow to pay such a flakey person.

You have no comback if they don't turn up.

Pay her when she arrives on the day, on time.

She shouldn't have a problem with that.
If she does, let her off.

Pay cash on arrival?

She's within her right to want a deposit on booking, but should only want the balance on the day. They have too many cancellations to not charge a deposit. Mobile hairdressers etc have to do the same to stay in business.

Usually you pay a deposit then rest in cash on the day.

She's within her right to want a deposit on booking, but should only want the balance on the day

Surely she's within her rights to charge in advance if she chooses to, especially if she also providing merch as well as entertainment. If she asks for the balance on the day, she may be let down. If she turns up and the OP cancels (not that I'm saying the OP would), it's not like she can just get another booking then and there.

I work in the wedding industry, and it's perfectly normal for small businesses to charge a deposit when booking, and full payment sometime in advance, all the suppliers I know do this. I ask for balances to be paid 2 months in advance. Been burned too many times to do anything else.

I do agree that it would be fair to ask for her phone number though, in case of any problems on the day.

OP, your choice whether to book on her terms or not. She's not forcing you to place the booking. Not particularly unusual either for a one-man business to not return calls/messages for a day or two. I'd be bit less keen if she doesn't return calls at all, and you have to chase.